Spain’s Mixed Education Results
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Loading... - Colin Drakos
- 24 Oct 2024
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Spain's education system presents a complex picture of achievement and challenges, characterized by significant disparities in educational attainment and employment outcomes. The latest data from the OECD highlights both the strengths and weaknesses of Spain's educational landscape, revealing a dual narrative of progress and ongoing issues.
Educational Attainment
In 2023, 52% of 25-34 year-olds in Spain held a tertiary qualification, surpassing the OECD average of 47%. This figure reflects a notable increase from 41% in 2016. However, the country also faces a troubling statistic: 26% of the same age group has not completed the last two years of secondary education, significantly higher than the OECD average of 14%. While the percentage of poorly educated individuals has decreased from 35% in 2016, the contrast between those with higher education and those lacking basic qualifications remains stark.
Employment Challenges: Over-Qualification and Unemployment
Despite the rising number of graduates, Spain grapples with a high unemployment rate of nearly 12%, which is double the EU average. The over-qualification rate stands at 34%, the highest in the EU, indicating that many graduates are unable to find jobs that match their qualifications. This mismatch often drives talented individuals to seek opportunities abroad, exacerbating the brain drain.
The employment statistics reveal that 63% of 25-34 year-olds without upper secondary education are employed, slightly above the OECD average of 61%. However, only 71% of those with upper secondary or post-secondary non-tertiary qualifications are employed, compared to the OECD average of 79%. This disparity highlights the challenges faced by graduates in securing suitable employment.
NEET Rates and Educational Reforms
The global financial crisis of 2008 underscored the importance of education, leading to a decline in the NEET (not in employment, education, or training) rate for 18-24 year-olds from 23.2% in 2016 to 17.8% in 2023. This decline is steeper than the OECD average, indicating progress in engaging young people in education or the workforce.
However, the PISA (Programme for International Student Assessment) results reveal a concerning trend: Spain's performance has deteriorated over the years, with mean scores in mathematics, science, and reading lower than those recorded two decades ago. Regional disparities are pronounced, with areas like Castile & León performing significantly better than regions such as the Canary Islands.
Financial Literacy and Curriculum Gaps
Spain's performance in financial literacy is also lacking, with an average score of 486, below the OECD average of 498. Approximately 17% of students do not reach the baseline proficiency, which is similar to the OECD average. A significant factor contributing to this gap is the lack of financial literacy education in the school curriculum, which is not mandatory in many institutions.
Grade Repetition and Early School Leaving
Grade repetition remains a challenge in Spain, with 2.1% of primary school students, 7.8% of lower secondary, and 6.5% of upper secondary students repeating grades. These figures exceed the OECD averages and raise questions about the effectiveness of such practices, which can demotivate students and lead to early school leaving. Nevertheless, the early school-leaving rate has decreased from 23.6% in 2013 to 13.6% in 2022, although it still exceeds the EU average of 9.5%.
Vocational Education and Immigrant Integration
Spain is making strides in vocational education and training (VET), with enrollment increasing by 36.2% over the past five years. However, the quality and perception of VET still lag behind countries like Germany. The influx of immigrants poses additional challenges, with one in seven students being an immigrant. While second-generation immigrants perform better than first-generation peers, they still score lower than non-immigrant students.
Policy Inconsistencies and Future Directions
Spain has seen eight new education laws since 1977, reflecting a lack of consistency and consensus in educational policy. This instability may contribute to declining PISA performance. The upcoming reform of the university entrance exam, Selectividad, aims to promote critical thinking and reasoning, but uncertainty remains regarding its implementation.
In higher education, issues of nepotism and favoritism in hiring practices persist, hindering the quality of instruction. External evaluations of universities are often inadequate, further complicating the landscape.
Overall, Spain's education system is marked by significant achievements in tertiary education attainment but is hindered by high rates of over-qualification, unemployment, and disparities in educational quality. While progress has been made in reducing early school leaving and NEET rates, challenges remain in financial literacy, vocational training, and regional performance disparities.
